As the president of the Cleveland County Youth Commission, the Burns High School senior has helped lead teens in community involvement.

“After college, I’m planning to come back because of all the great things I’ve seen going on in the community," Howell said.

Two years ago, Cleveland County created a Youth Commission to give local youth a voice. The commission is like a student version of the Cleveland County Commissioners.

“I’ve gained more leadership and discipline from this position in my school,” said Howell, the commission president. “I have gained more government and political knowledge on the local level.”

The Youth Commission is composed of 21 members and four officers.

“It started after the commissioners went to a N.C. Associations of County Commissioners meeting where they talked about youth commissioners,” said Mary Accor, advisor for the youth commission. “Our first group of students came out of the Early College (High School) who wanted to do the youth commission as a project.”

The county's youth were surveyed to find out what was important to them, and that information was presented to commissioners.

“The commissioners voted last year to make (the youth commission) a standing board,” Accor said. “We surveyed the youth of the county to find out what was important to them so we could understand how our decisions impacted students.”

This fall, the students organized a food drive and donated items to Cleveland Pines and Wendover House Hospice.

The commission also raised $850 though tips and ticket sales by serving a pancake breakfast at Fatz Cafe.

The money was divided between the county's five high schools, given to counselors and donated toward food or school supplies for local students, Accor said.

To serve on the Cleveland County Youth Commission, students are selected by school counselors.